My heart rate jolts to mock speed when Steel stops in front of me. Why is he staring at me like a lion about to pounce? It doesn’t help that the fans are calling out, “He’s looking at your girl, Hammer!”
Hammer walks up to the cage’s closed door and scowls at Steel, a blatant threat in his eyes. Don’t fucking look at her.
Steel grunts and whisks the white mask off me, tossing it behind him in an open challenge.
The crowd goes wild and Tilly grabs my arm, squealing in my ear. “Oh my God, Hammer’s arguing with the EUC’s official to let him out!”
I hear Tilly, but I can’t look away from the fighter in front of me, nor do I give a flip that Big Boobs Amanda is scrambling to pick up the white mask he dropped. As soon as he took my mask off, Steel’s mouth shifted from a smartass smirk to a thin, hard line. Why does he look pissed? Maybe he thought I was better looking under the mask. I push my shoulders back and tilt my chin up.
Sliding his black carnival mask into place on my face, Steel cups the back of my head and says in a low, harsh rumble, “You’re mine.”
This might be pure entertainment for everyone else—his action ramping the fans while also giving a big “fuck you” to Hammer—but not for me. I rip the mask off and toss it behind me to the gaggle of girls. While the crowd goes even nuttier over my apparent rejection, and the girls squeal and fight over the black mask like a bride’s bouquet, I hold his suddenly narrowed gaze. “No one owns me. Not him. Not you.”
He takes a deep breath, his chest widening as he pulls something from his short’s pocket. Dropping the beaded steel chain around my neck, he rumbles in a coarse tone, “Don’t fucking take this off.”
Anger erupts and I quickly grab the tape-covered metal dangling from the chain. Before I can take it off, Steel pulls my hand free of the necklace and slides his other hand under my hair, touching the back of my neck. The black tape on his hand rubs mine as he presses my fingers to the side of his neck and bites out in a gruff tone just for my ears, “Keep it on. I’m not asking.”
With all the shouting going on around us, my self-preservation meter is screaming at me to pull away. But something in the tightness of his hold on my hand draws my attention to his neck. I look up to see two familiar sharp points just above my fingers that he’s pressing against his pulse and my stomach drops.
Calder?
My gaze jerks to his, seeking confirmation to my unspoken recognition. When our eyes meet, I finally reconcile what my mind was too distracted to see a few seconds ago. Calder’s green eyes boring into me, full of anger, judgment, and guarded heat.
Pressing his lips together, he releases me without another word and walks up the stairs and into the cage.
What the hell is she doing here? My stomach tenses with worry as I glance back. She’s standing there gripping my dog tags, a shocked expression on her face. Something is definitely going on with her, and my life is beyond screwed up, yet I thought for sure she was sincere when we were in the garden together today.
Hearing her say that our connection was as strong as ever was enough to temporarily stave off my questions, but watching her get engaged fifteen minutes later was more shit than I could deal with. Not when this bout was hanging over my head. Everything I’ve worked toward comes down to this fight. I needed space to get my head right, not to mention…I didn’t want her anywhere near this part of my life.
I only intended to rile Hammer by taking whichever ring girl he’d picked. But when I pulled his damn mask off, she’s the last person I expected to see. This is so royally fucked up, but now that she’s in my domain, everyone has to know that she’s mine. No one better fucking touch her.
The second I enter the cage and the door closes, I shutdown the worry slamming through my head and turn to face Hammer.
“You’re dead!” he yells over the screaming crowd. Fury is evident in his tight fists and pinched mouth as he watches the tall brunette wearing his white mask while she saunters the full circle around the outside of the cage, the round number one sign high above her head.
That’s exactly how I want him. Pissed as hell. I’ve worked too damn hard to fuck this up now. He might want the glory, but he’s about to find out I’m far hungrier for this win.
I studied his other fights; Hammer hits hardest when he’s angry. Works for me. I’ve been itching for someone to challenge me enough to make all this bullshit worth the past six months. Her rejection at the party earlier threw me off, but now that she’s here, I’m so damned amped up at the idea of her being there once this event is over.
Hope is a concept I’d given up on. I know it’s illogical to think she’s here for me. She definitely didn’t recognize me in this mask, but a part of me can’t help but believe her being here wasn’t just a coincidence. The powerful combination of protectiveness and hope are a jolt of pure adrenaline to my system. Pounding this prick into the mat will be the perfect release for me. I jam my mouth guard in and pull on my gloves.
When the ref signals the fight to begin, I lift my hands, then curl my fingers toward me and give Hammer a sharp look that says, “Bring it, asshole.”
I can’t help but wince when Hammer goes after Steel like a rampaging bull, fists flying. Calder pounds him back with several swift punches and knee jabs to the ribs. I’m still trying to process the fact that the guy I thought for sure was a street fighter is Calder.
Tilly is clapping loudly and yelling for Steel to kick Hammer’s ass. No doubt who she’s cheering for. When she taps me on the shoulder and says, “Let’s see it,” I frown in confusion.
“See what?”
She tosses her long hair over her shoulder and points to Calder’s dog tags still clenched in my hand. “Peel back the tape he’s wrapped around those tags. Let’s find out his real name.”
Shit, I didn’t even think about the fact that I’m wearing his real identity around my neck.
“Um, I think Steel might want to go a few rounds in the cage with me if I even thought about touching the tape. Sorry, Tilly.”
She sighs her understanding, then returns her attention to the fight, screaming, “Give the Hammer a spinning back-fist!”
She sure is bloodthirsty for such a tiny thing. Of course I can’t help but wonder why Calder is here in the first place. He doesn’t need the money. As I watch Hammer land a punch to Calder’s jaw and his head snaps sideways, anger lashes through me. I jump in with Tilly and yell for him to take Hammer down while he’s got Hammer in what Tilly is calling a guillotine choke. Why the hell is Calder putting his life at risk? It can’t possibly be for glory. He didn’t even seem to care about that.
The men break apart and circle the mat, fists up in guarded positions while they look for ways to pound the shit out of each other.
Suddenly Hammer comes at Steel with a rapid round of punches. Calder steps back and shakes his head, and then jumps in the air with a spin kick. He takes Hammer down to the mat in a move that stuns the hell out of me.
The battle of wills continues on the mat as Hammer tries to break free. But the round goes to Steel as the bell rings.
“Did you see that? I don’t even know what that was!” Tilly asks the girl next to her for her take.
“I think it was a double spin kick. Holy shit that was one of the best takedowns I’ve ever seen.”
The crowd rushes to their feet, some roaring for Steel, others for Hammer. Everyone is excited. All too soon, round two starts up and my stomach coils into knots all over again.
When the ref calls the round to start, Hammer charges at Calder once again. That must be his signature move, trying to throw his opponent off his game. But Calder just bats him away like an annoying fly.
My ears ring with the screams from the girls all around me. I feel the slightest bit dizzy. I don’t want to watch Calder get punched in the head all for sport. Pulling my phone out I quickly text Beth.
Me: Where the heck are you?
Beth: I’m standing beside my boyfriend. Speaking of…he wants me
to go to an after party with him. You game?
Who knows how long the after party will last. I need to be ready to leave when Celeste calls.
Me: I’ll pass. Don’t worry. I’ll just grab a cab.
Beth: Are you sure? You can take my car and Brent can bring me home.
I remember seeing a few people getting dropped off by cabs as we pulled into the garage.
Me: Yep, I’m good.
Beth: Okay, if you’re sure. Hope you’re having fun down there. Did you enjoy being fought over by both fighters? That has never happened before!
Me: Um, that’s not something I want to experience again.
Beth: LOL! Only you would find being fought over by two hunky men an experience you don’t want to repeat. Sheesh, girl! See you at home.
I start to type her a response and my phone’s battery dies. You’ve got to be kidding me. I try to turn it off, then back on, but it’s officially dead. I can’t believe I didn’t think to charge the phone, but then again, I didn’t expect to have it this long. Just as I look up, the bout ends, and the round goes to Hammer, who’s apparently acting more than a bit crazed.
After the ring girl does her walk around the catwalk around the outside of the cage, round three begins.
Only this time, the tone of the fight changes. In the last round, Hammer was relentless, but in this one, he doesn’t seem to be fighting with the same vigor. Is he exhausted? He doesn’t appear to be out of breath or anything. But at this rate, Calder is clearly going to win this round by sheer strikes and general fight control. I exhale a relieved breath. Calder just has to win the bout after this one and the fight is over.
Calder looks like he could go another ten rounds without breaking a sweat, but I don’t like watching someone trying to beat the snot out of him either. Hammer’s hits have to hurt like hell.
Suddenly Calder hooks his leg on Hammer’s and swipes his feet out from under him. They both go down, and while they’re grappling on the mat, he says something that sets Hammer off. With a roaring growl, Hammer literally tosses Calder across the mat.
When Calder turns and faces Hammer and I see him smile around his mouth guard, I realize Calder antagonized his opponent on purpose.
Ugh, he had this round. Does the man have a death wish?
Hammer swings a hard right and punches Calder so hard he slams into the cage. I gasp and squeeze the dog tags, worry for Calder ripping through me. Calder ducks Hammer’s next swing and twists, landing a spinning back fist into Hammer’s jaw that sends the guy stumbling back.
Shaking off the grogginess, Hammer roars. Just as he starts across the mat for Calder, the lights flash and the announcer comes over the speaker. “We’ve just learned the police are on their way. No need to rush. There’s enough time to get to your cars. The championship EUC will be rescheduled soon. Look for your tickets to arrive.”
Of course no one listens to the announcer. Pandemonium breaks out. The security guys try to maintain order, but people flood into the main aisle in an effort to get to the exit as fast as possible. Tilly grabs my hand and tries to tug me along with her, but someone pulls my arm free of her hold. I get a glimpse of vengeful eyes in a white mask as Amanda shoves me against the stair rail leading up to the cage. While pain racks my ribs and air whooshes out of my lungs, she laughs and turns away into the moving mass. I try to recover and go after her, but too many people crowd in at once, jamming me against the railing.
Panic takes over when it gets harder to take a breath. I contemplate trying to squeeze through the narrow stair railing and take a chance getting stuck, when someone yells above me, “Give me your hands.”
I glance up to see Calder looking at me over the rail. “Trust me to keep you safe,” he says gruffly and holds his hands out.
As soon as I lift my hands up, he plucks me out of the crowd like I weigh nothing. He moves so fast, I’m hauled over the railing and set on the stairs before I can get my bearings.
“This way,” he rumbles and takes my hand, tugging me behind him.
We move past the cage’s opening, and I have to hurry to keep up with Calder’s long strides as we cross the mat. Pushing open another door on the opposite side of the cage, Calder quickly jumps down from the catwalk area, landing five-feet below with the grace of a bounding tiger. Turning quickly, he says, “Sit and I’ll lift you down.”
I’ve barely touched my butt to the floor’s edge when he grips my waist. Once he lowers me to the floor in front of him, he cups my face. “I’m sorry you got slammed into the railing. The lock on the main entrance kept me from getting to you faster. Are you okay to walk?”
I’m still shaking, but I’m glad we’re away from the mass of people on the other side of the cage. I nod and ignore the dull throb radiating from my ribcage. “I’ll be fine, but…” I pause and glance toward the exit. “The last thing I want to do is head back into that mad crush.”
Calder flashes a smile. “You won’t have to. Come on.”
He pulls me over to another door and pushes it open. As I follow him down a dark hallway, lit only by a stairwell sign at the end of the hall, I wonder if the other fighter and referee fled into the crowd or if they took this same path. By Calder’s movements, he seems intent on being as quiet as possible, so I don’t ask.
Opening a door in the hallway, he grabs a duffle bag sitting just inside and rips open the zipper. Once he tugs off his mask and wipes his face with a towel, he stows his mask, then slides a pair of scissors under the black tape and gauze on his hand, quickly cutting it away. After he’s taken care of the other hand, he pulls on a white T-shirt and a pair of running shoes.
It’s so nice to see his whole face, I can’t help but smile despite the fact the police could raid the place at any moment. Without a word, I follow him down a stairwell and out the backside of the building.
After ten minutes of brisk walking between some adjacent abandoned buildings, Calder stops beside a black truck and opens the passenger door for me.
“Why didn’t you park in the deck like everyone else?” I ask once we pull away from the curb.
He glances my way and smirks. “I’m sure the car line out of the deck is still going right now, but mostly it’s to keep my anonymity.”
“Ah, Beth mentioned the reason for the masks. Beth…crap.”
Worried for Beth, I pull my phone out of my pocket, then remember it’s dead. “You um, don’t happen to have a charger in your car, do you?”
Glancing at my phone, he shakes his head. “Not with me. My phone’s at my place. You can plug your phone in when you get there. As for Beth, I’m sure she’s fine. I guarantee the place will be completely emptied out before the police arrive.”
The last is said with such sarcasm, I glance up from trying once more to turn my phone on. “How can you be so sure?”
He faces toward the road and tightens his hold on the steering wheel. “Because too much money runs through this EUC group to let something as pesky as a police raid get in the way of their bottom line.”
“Wait…are you saying they have the police in their back pocket?”
“Amongst others,” he says in a dry tone.
“Why would you be involved with a group like that, Calder? You’re better than that.”
He cuts a cold gaze my way. “What makes you think I’m better? My last name? It sure as fuck wasn’t good enough for you earlier today.”
I open my mouth to deny his assumption, but then shut it. I deserve that. Well, Celeste does anyway. But the truth is…how well do I know him? Not at all, really. But I thought I had a sense of the kind of person he was four years ago. He’s obviously changed a lot since then. More than anyone in his family knows, apparently.
“I’m sorry, Calder. On too many fronts to count,” I say sincerely, glancing out the window at the streetlights zooming past. “Thank you for saving me tonight. You didn’t have to. That’s what makes you better.”
“I might not be a Blake ‘golden boy’ any longer, but helping y
ou was my only option,” he says quietly as he pulls up outside an apartment building just on the edge of the revitalized Lower East End.
Why does he think his family no longer sees him in good light? According to Talia, he’s the one who has kept his distance. Not the other way around.
Calder’s apartment is surprisingly neat when we walk in. It’s also no more than four hundred square feet, but he somehow makes the kitchen/living/bedroom combo work by using his coffee table as a dining table and pushing his bed against the big glass window to give him as much “living space” as possible. An extra long, old leather couch sections off his sleeping area from the living space very well.
“You’ve made the most of this space,” I say in a quiet voice, appreciating the old vinyl albums and record player taking up bookshelf slots below two rows of leather bound books. He’s a vintage guy. I freaking love that!
Calder walks over to the bookshelves and pulls open a drawer underneath the record player. Retrieving a cord, he attaches something onto the end of it, then holds it out. “I think this adapter should work for your phone.”
“Thanks.” I take the cord and plug it into the outlet shared by the record player. As I slide the other end of the cord into my phone and the screen lights up with the charging icon, I’m acutely aware of Calder’s stare following every move I make and hyper-sensitive to the fact we’re both not talking about my surprise engagement.
I note the lock screen, but hold out hope it’s just part of the start up sequence. Setting my phone on the shelf, I smile at the record player, then glance at the stack of albums. I almost ask if he minds if I look through them, but what if Celeste hates this kind of music or he’s already shown her his collection?
So instead I lean back against the wall and sigh. “I guess my phone was deader than I realized. The reboot will take a few minutes.”
Gold Shimmer Page 14
